Category: US GSA

Source: United States General Services Administration

October 31, 2022

The investment will improve the U.S. AbilityOne Commission’s software which connects nonprofit employers of the blind or disabled to federal agency customers.

WASHINGTON – Today, the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) announced a new investment that will update the U.S. AbilityOne Commission’s Procurement List Information Management System (PLIMS) software. This PLIMS core software connects employers of individuals who are blind or who have significant disabilities with federal agency customers. The investment will improve that connection while also enhancing system accessibility and creating a more secure system. The improvements will also increase the Commission’s ability to execute program oversight and will benefit federal customers who depend on AbilityOne products and services.

“AbilityOne is a small, independent agency with an extremely meaningful mission,” said TMF Board Chair and Federal CIO Clare Martorana. “During the pandemic, the AbilityOne program has been pivotal in keeping the federal government and U.S. military operating through nationwide surge to meet exponential increases in demand. Many AbilityOne employees are designated as essential workers; their duties include staffing critical non-interruptible services, such as dining facilities and switchboard operations at military bases and VA hospitals, as well as call centers for the IRS and VA. With the support of the TMF, this investment will ensure AbilityOne can continue providing these essential services without interruption.”

“TMF funding will modernize critical software that supports employment opportunities for thousands of people, including more than 2,500 wounded warriors,” said TMF Executive Director Raylene Yung. “AbilityOne directly supports a variety of programs that connect veterans and others with disabilities to nonprofit agencies and other resources.”

AbilityOne provides nearly $4 billion in products and services to the federal government annually and is one of the largest sources of employment in the U.S. for individuals who are blind or who have significant disabilities. The TMF is investing $1.78M to improve the procurement software that supports buying and selling the high quality products and services that the AbilityOne program offers federal customers.

“AbilityOne is pleased to partner with the TMF to modernize our PLIMS system,” said Jeffrey A. Koses, GSA Senior Procurement Executive Office of Government-wide Policy and U.S. AbilityOne Commission Chairperson. “The investment will increase the Commission’s ability to execute its statutory oversight of the program and will benefit the federal customers who depend on AbilityOne products and services, as well as the program’s 450 nonprofits, which employ 40,000 people on AbilityOne contracts.”

For more information, visit: tmf.cio.gov

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About the TMF: The Technology Modernization Fund is working to transform the way the government uses technology to deliver for the American public in an equitable, secure, and user-centric way. The TMF invests in technology projects across government, providing incremental funding, technical assistance, and oversight throughout execution to ensure the success of its investments.

The TMF is overseen by the Technology Modernization Board, which is composed of government IT leaders representing proven expertise in technology, transformation, and operations. To date, the TMF has announced investments totaling over $600 million. These investments have supported projects ranging from providing a single secure login experience for government websites to digitizing temporary worker visa programs and modernizing systems that support crop inspection and certification. The TMF has received $175 million through the annual budget process and $1 billion through the American Rescue Plan to fund modernization projects to date. For more information, visit tmf.cio.gov and follow us at @TMF_gsa.

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

Source: United States General Services Administration

October 27, 2022

The Art in Architecture (AiA) Program commissions public artworks for federal buildings nationwide

HARRISBURG, PA – Administrator Robin Carnahan marked the 50th Anniversary of the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Art in Architecture (AiA) program this week at the new Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. District Court, where two newly commissioned works are being installed: a massive 250-foot mural by Monique van Genderen that spans the building’s lobby and a series of eight paintings by Claire Sherman for floors 3 through 10 of the elevator tower.

The AiA program was established in 1972 by President Nixon after he issued a directive renewing and expanding the 1962 Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture, which recommended that new federal buildings include public artworks. Since then, the program has commissioned more than 500 artworks that enhance the civic meaning of federal architecture and showcase the vibrancy and diversity of American visual arts.

“From Harrisburg and Philadelphia, to San Antonio, to the Seattle area, I’ve seen first-hand the array of public artworks that GSA has helped install and manage in many public spaces with the help of experts, the local community, and world-class artists,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “The American people should be inspired and proud of this collection — their collection — and we will ensure that this portfolio becomes even more vibrant in the years to come.”

Looking forward, the program plans to launch 26 new Art in Architecture opportunities in states along the northern and southern borders at land ports of entry (LPOE), funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

AiA has always been dedicated to producing commissions from a diverse group of artists in a diverse range of styles, as PBS Commissioner Nina Albert explained. “This program is committed to including artists who work in many styles and materials and come from diverse communities throughout our nation. Incorporating art from living artists into our important civic spaces reflects how democratic societies benefit from the creative talents of their people.”

To commemorate this anniversary GSA will be celebrating with a host of activities:

• AiA 50th Anniversary Kickoff Event in Washington, D.C.
• The AiA 50th anniversary video series
• #AiA50 campaign across GSA’s social platforms
• AiA commissioned artists experience videos and more

Learn more about the anniversary activities and the Art in Architecture program, such as how installations are funded and how GSA partners with the NEA to encourage artists to sign up for the registry, by visiting the AIA50 website.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

Source: United States General Services Administration

October 26, 2022

WASHINGTON — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced new political appointments, including Arpit Garg as General Counsel, Michael Flowers as Senior Advisor for Delivery in the Office of the Administrator, Adam Tanga as Policy Advisor in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Nathan Osburn as Deputy Associate Administrator for Public Affairs.

Garg brings significant government and legal experience to the Office of the General Counsel. Garg most recently served in the White House as the Deputy General Counsel for the Office of Management and Budget. Prior to that, he was a counsel in the Appellate and Supreme Court Group at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP. Garg also served as a law clerk to Justices Stephen G. Breyer and David H. Souter of the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the Ninth Circuit, and Judge Denise L. Cote of the Southern District of New York. He is a graduate of Yale Law School.

Flowers most recently served as a Senior Fellow in New Jersey’s Office of Innovation. Flowers has extensive experience launching, executing, and scaling data-driven initiatives and capacities, including serving as the first Chief Analytics Officer for the City of New York.

Tanga brings extensive experience in advancing diverse policy initiatives to the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. Tanga has held numerous roles in Congressional offices and advised Committee leadership, including most recently as Legislative Director for Rep. Gregorio Sablan, and will support the Public Buildings Service portfolio in OCIA.

Osburn, who previously served as Speechwriter, is now serving as Deputy Associate Administrator for Public Affairs in the Office of Strategic Communications. Osburn brings more than a dozen years of communications experience, including as a speechwriter at the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Small Business Administration, and communications director at ASTM International.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA

Source: United States General Services Administration

October 20, 2022

GSA Awards Multi-Year Evaluation Contract on Equity and the American Rescue Plan

WASHINGTON (DC) — Today, U.S. General Services Administration announced it has awarded a multi-year contract to the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to examine the role of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) in advancing equitable outcomes across a range of federal, state, and locally implemented programs. The Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES) will support the contract in partnership with the Office of Management and Budget’s Evidence Team, the ARP Implementation Team, and other agency partners. In addition, OES will complement this study by conducting rapid, rigorous evaluations of up to ten additional ARP programs.

“Since his first day in office, President Biden has prioritized advancing equity and economic opportunity across his administration, including through the implementation of the American Rescue Plan,” said Amb. Susan Rice, White House Domestic Policy Advisor. “This new evaluation will create a critical roadmap to ensure that the work of the Biden-Harris administration continues to provide effective and equitable benefits to the American people.”

President Biden signed the historic $1.9 trillion ARP on March 11, 2021, to help families, workers, communities, and small business owners recover from the public health and economic impact of COVID-19 – major components of which were designed to respond to the disproportionate negative impacts of the pandemic on underserved individuals and communities.

“The American Rescue Plan was the administration’s first opportunity to advance equity through the implementation of major legislation. To date, ARP has helped power a historically equitable recovery,” said Gene Sperling, White House Senior Advisor and ARP Implementation Coordinator. “The Biden-Harris administration released the ARP Equity Report to highlight the work done to advance equity through ARP implementation and to generate feedback and analysis on the way forward. The national evaluation provides us with an opportunity to rigorously examine what worked and apply those lessons alongside our state and local partners to continue to deliver an equitable recovery both now and in the future.”

The ARP National Evaluation is a multi-year study that will provide a systematic look at the contributions of selected ARP-funded programs toward achieving equitable outcomes to inform program design and delivery across the federal government. The ARP National Evaluation is funded as part of a portfolio of investments managed by GSA’s Technology Transformation Services, and builds on GSA’s commitment to make government service delivery more inclusive.

“The new evaluations will be essential for understanding the role of ARP programs and supported interventions in improving outcomes for historically underserved populations,” said Andrea M. O’Neal, GSA’s Senior Advisor for Equity. “GSA’s evaluations will measure whether ARP-funded interventions are working as intended and GSA will share any lessons learned.”

The ARP National Evaluation is informed by the recently released ARP Equity Report and associated ARP Equity Learning Agenda with the goal of building evidence on equitable implementation from ARP-funded programs. It is also designed to support the President’s Management Agenda Learning Agenda by helping to foster a more equitable, effective, and accountable government.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA

Source: United States General Services Administration

October 17, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently awarded new 2023 light-duty vehicle models. The agency leverages the buying power of the federal government while also streamlining and simplifying the procurement process for federal agencies and industry partners. These new light-duty vehicle models give federal customers more opportunities to meet the Biden-Harris Administration’s climate change goals, including 100% of light-duty zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) acquisitions by 2027 and 100% ZEV vehicle acquisitions by 2035.

“We’re pleased to make the latest vehicles available for purchase or lease to our federal agency partners to help them fulfill their missions,” said GSA Assistant Commissioner for Travel, Transportation, and Logistics Crystal Philcox. “Last fiscal year, more than 38,000 vehicles were purchased, of which 3,567 were ZEVs. It’s great to see our partners embracing these electric vehicles and including them in their FY23 fleet plans.”

GSA provides both traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles and zero-emission vehicle options, including battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models. GSA awarded 17 model year 2023 light-duty ZEVs across multiple brands and vehicle categories: sedans, vans, light-duty pickup trucks, crossovers, and sport utility vehicles. Agencies can purchase these vehicles through GSA AutoChoice or lease them from GSA Fleet.

GSA will keep the light-duty vehicle solicitation open for the entirety of the contract period for emerging technology vehicles in order to offer customers new ZEV models as they become available.

GSA is the mandatory source for executive agencies purchasing non-tactical vehicles in the United States, excluding postal vehicles. To learn more about the GSA Fleet program, check out gsa.gov/gsafleet. For information on GSA’s latest ZEV offerings and electric vehicle supply equipment, visit gsa.gov/electrifythefleet.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of more than 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $68 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.